Living in Mount Tai is certainly not an exaggeration. These days, there is no admission fee to climb Mount Tai, and there is no real estate. Li Zhi would like to live as long as he wants, as long as he can withstand the cold wind at the top of Mount Tai.
Li Qinzai had no feelings for ghosts and gods. He was a materialist, although not too firm. He occasionally went to temples to worship and made a few wishes to the Bodhisattva with the luck of buying a lottery ticket.
But deep down he doesn't actually believe in the so-called ghosts and gods of heaven and earth.
If there are ghosts and gods in heaven and earth, what is the significance of the mathematics and physics I teach?
Of course, believe it or not, next time you meet the tortoise in the wishing well, you will still throw money into its mouth.
What a damn charming and contradictory man.
Late at night, an old man with a white beard played Tai Chi and Push Hands with him for a long time. The cunning guy refused to tell the truth.
Of course Li Qinzai is not stupid. He is not very familiar with Guan Yi, and of course he has not behaved stupidly like breaking out his heart when they meet.
Feng Chan Taishan is such a sensitive topic, so of course it's okay to praise him verbally. If he tells his true inner thoughts behind Li Zhi's back, it's because he thinks his life is boring and wants to start a survival mode for himself.
After prevaricating for a long time, Li Qinzai became a little impatient.
Why do you care to listen to your opinion? I will continue to be my salty fish. Ganjing Village is nearly a hundred miles away from Chang'an City. It is none of my business if you cause trouble in the court.
After yawning for a long time, Li Qinzai said goodbye to Shangguan Yi with a sleepy look on his face.
Just as he was about to stand up, Shangguan Yi suddenly said: "Servant Liu Rengui was demoted to Shizhong by His Majesty's decree yesterday. Liu Rengui is so angry that he is sick."
Li Qinzai twitched the corner of his mouth: "Old Liu Cao has too many things on his mind, and he is also a mean talker...Ahem, no, he should be sharp in his words, so he should rest for a while."
Shangguan Yi glanced at him and said leisurely: "Your mouth is much meaner than his."
Li Qinzai was silent for a while and couldn't help but ask: "Why was Liu Rengui demoted?"
Shangguan Yi sighed and said: "The reason of the officials is that Liu Rengui doesn't know right from wrong, and he heard that he was making trouble..."
Li Qinzai frowned: "Liu Rengui is a servant, and he has the right to hear rumors and report things. This reason cannot be justified."
Shangguan Yi smiled: "Yes, I am a servant, and the court will never hold anyone accountable for my words. Liu Rengui has set a precedent for our court, haha."
Seeing that Shangguan Yi's laughter contained a hint of sarcasm, Li Qinzai seemed to understand something.
"Is there any other reason why Liu Rengui was demoted?"
Shangguan Yi smiled and said: "It's a good idea. Yes, Liu Rengui was demoted just because he submitted a memorial to His Majesty..."
Li Qinzai blinked: "About Fengchan Taishan?"
Shangguan Yi stroked his beard and smiled: "It saves trouble to talk to smart people. That's right. Liu Rengui advised His Majesty to postpone the granting of Zen, saying that the national treasury cannot make ends meet. In recent years, huge expenditures have been made. Several wars and drought in the north have even caused the imperial court to
Already owe a lot of money and food to private landlords."
"The money and grain that the imperial court owes must be repaid. In other words, even if the weather is good this year and the grain harvest is bumper, after the national treasury has paid off last year's debt, it will still be empty and there will be no surplus."
Shangguan Yi's body suddenly leaned forward, and he lowered his voice and said, "Do you know how much it will cost for Your Majesty to consecrate Mount Tai?"
Li Qinzai smiled bitterly and said: "It's probably an unimaginable number."
"That's right, consecrating Mount Tai will cost at least half of the world's tax money. Otherwise, why do you think the Queen said that the local governments must prepare for a year and a half? Do you think that the so-called preparation is just sweeping the streets and gathering the people to kneel down to welcome the holy driver?
What?"
"Oh, Your Majesty sets out from Chang'an and travels a hundred miles every day. A palace must be built wherever he lands. In addition to the eunuchs and maidens, there are also civil and military officials from all over the dynasty, numbering more than 10,000. These more than 10,000 people walk slowly every day.
Walking towards Mount Tai, you need to eat and drink every day, and you also need to eat exquisitely and luxuriously. How much should this number be?"
"Not to mention building palaces, building sacrificial platforms, and building various mountain climbing stone steps. How many civilians need to be recruited for such a large project? What will these civilians eat and drink? It is not provided by the government. In total, hundreds of thousands of civilians will
Shouldn’t it? This is another astonishing figure.”
Shangguan Yi shook his head and sighed: "The whole country's material resources are just to climb Mount Tai to enshrine Zen. If there is a good harvest year, it can barely be enough. However, in recent years, the state treasury has received nothing, and instead owes a lot of money and food to the people. If we still go to Mount Tai to enshrine Zen,
I'm worried that the people will suffer unbearably, and your Majesty's reputation will also..."
"His Majesty said that he wanted to be enshrined, and the whole court was in agreement. They are not fools. Could it be that they can't see the current situation clearly? They are just being wise and protecting themselves."
"Liu Rengui would rather break than bend, but he speaks the truth, but His Majesty's punishment is coming soon. He found an excuse to demote him, and it is also to warn other courtiers not to go against His Majesty's wishes."
Shangguan Yi shook his head and sighed: "His Majesty has indeed made many achievements over the years, but now he has become a little carried away."
Li Qinzai was silent for a long time and said softly: "Grandpa Shangguan doesn't agree with His Majesty's conferment on Mount Taishan?"
Shangguan Yi still did not express his position directly, but smiled slyly and said: "If you can patiently wait for a few more years, wait for the national treasury to slowly fill up, and wait for the people of the world to regain their strength, it is natural for Your Majesty to confer Zen status. After all, his achievements are real."
If you are here, you are qualified enough to be granted Zen status."
"But now is not the right time."
Li Qinzai blinked: "Why don't Grandpa Shangguan follow Liu Rengui's example and personally advise His Majesty? Liu Rengui's objection alone may not be enough to wake up His Majesty, but if there are more outspoken ministers like Wei Zheng in the court, His Majesty will surely withdraw his orders, right?"
"
Shangguan Yi glanced at him sideways, his eyes full of contempt: "Why don't you give me advice?"
Li Qinzai brushed his hair pretentiously: "...I'm still a child."
Shangguan Yi smiled and scolded: "You kid is more cunning than a fox. I've been talking to you for a long time, but you really don't want to let go."
Li Qinzai hurriedly shook his head: "Grandpa Shangguan has found the wrong person. This junior is very timid. Hearing a cat meowing at night will frighten half of his life. I don't dare to do anything against Yan's advice. The food belongs to the treasury and my life is my own."
"
Shangguan Yi sighed in disappointment.
Li Qinzai sneered in his heart.
The old fox had plotted against him, thinking that with a few words of incitement, he would be like a hot-blooded and middle-aged boy, writing furiously, and writing to Li Zhi to oppose Feng Chan.
Oh, I look ugly but I want to be beautiful, do you think I am a fool?
Leaving aside Li Zhi's thoughts, it was Empress Wu's idea to grant the title of Zen Taishan. Li Qinzai finally eased the relationship with Empress Wu, but was he still unhappy for himself?
Gritting his teeth, Li Qinzai puffed up his chest with great righteousness and said: "In order to save the people of the world from water and fire, I have decided that if Your Majesty is granted Zen status on Mount Tai, I am willing to donate twenty kilograms of grain to the national treasury in my own name to relieve the urgent needs of the people.
"
Shangguan Yi took a deep breath and almost fainted.